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Tuesday, November 20, 2001

Sewer project's engineer picked, cash still sought

By LEIA HOLLANDStaff WriterPECOS, Tues., Nov. 20, 2001 -- The Town of Pecos City Council approved
hiring Frank Spencer & Associates as engineer for a planned project
to add a number of homes to the city's sewer system, during their regular
meeting Monday night at City Hall.

The city submitted an application for the Economically Distressed Areas
Programs (EDAP) project this summer that would allow the city to "provide
adequate sewer connections primarily for low income houses," according
to City Manager Carlos Yerena.

Yerena explained in a previous interview that the grant the city applied
for would be approximately $300,000 and with that money the city hopes
to connect 32 additional houses to the city's lines. Most of the homes
involved are located on the north side and the southeast side of town.

"We're hoping to get sewer connections to just those houses that qualify
and those not currently connected to the sewer," he said.

During the meeting, Yerena explained to the council that the application
is up for approval from the Texas Water Development Board but in order
to help the process progress faster he recommended the council select an
engineer for the project.

"In order to expedite the project we needed to go through the application
process and hiring the engineer," he said.

Yerena said that the city advertised applications for the engineer in
October, with Spencer & Associates the only respondant. With his recommendation,
the council approved hiring the company for the project pending approval
from the Texas Water Development Board.

In other business, the council took no action on an agenda item that
asked for consideration in placing speed bumps on streets near and around
Pecos High School.

Yerena explained that Mayor Pro Tem Danny Rodriguez, who is also the
PHS Principal, asked for the item to be placed on the agenda.

Rodriguez explained that the school has been having problems recently
with speeding around the campus area.

However, Yerena said that the Texas Municipal League advised against
placing speed bumps around the school for liability purposes. He said that
the city would incur liability if the speed bumps were placed around the
school.

Rodriguez and Pecos Police Chief Clay McKinney met prior to last night's
meeting and discussed the possibility of more police patrols during peak
traffic hours around the school.

"We have come up with an idea to increase police presence during certain
times of the day," McKinney said.

Rodriguez said that the school is happy for the police presence.

"We want the presence there," he said.

Utilities Director Octavio Garcia said that the city would also place
more speed limit signs around the school.

Also on Monday, the council also approved accounts payable, juvenile
and municipal court reports and the minutes of the previous meeting.

The council meeting was held three days before the normal Thursday date
due to this week's Thanksgiving holiday.

Christian Home seeking desserts, help with dinner

By ROSIE FLORESStaff WriterPECOS, Tues., Nov. 20, 2001 -- Desserts and volunteers to help serve
meals are needed for the annual free Thanksgiving dinner, scheduled for
Thursday at the Reeves County Civic Center.

The dinner is an annual event sponsored by the Pecos Christian Home
and will begin at 10 a.m., Thursday.

Christian Home Director Bruce Dury said that the number of people who
attend the annual event has grown each year, and between 400-500 people
attended last year's event.

"We won't have an actual count until that day," Dury said, but he expects
more will show up this year.

"But what we really need right now are desserts," said Dury. "And of
course, volunteers, to help serve and to deliver the Meals on Wheels."

Thanksgiving Dinner will be delivered to the individuals on the Meals
On Wheels list. "That's over 100 people," said Dury.

Different church groups are cooking turkeys for the Thanksgiving dinner
this year, and that work is already underway. "We have a few more that
need cooked, but we feel good with the number of turkeys," he said.

Desserts can be taken to the Christian Home, 1201 S. Elm. "They can
also take them to the Civic Center on Thursday," said Dury.

Desserts of any type including cakes, pies or cobblers are needed to
complete the dinner. He said the dinner has been a success each year, and
he feels confident the community will once again reach out and help.